May 12, 2005
TWO BIRDS WITH ONE "NO":
At a French rally, bring your economics text: What does John Stuart Mill have to do with the European Union Constitution? (Peter Ford, 5/13/05, CS Monitor)
Only in France does the campaign trail take you to such obscure corners of political philosophy.In the canteen of a local primary school the other evening, a speaker representing the "Collective for a Left Wing 'No' " was earnestly explaining why French voters should reject the draft European Union (EU) Constitution at the referendum to be held at the end of this month.
The somewhat scruffy audience of intellectual-looking types, squeezed onto child-sized benches, listened attentively as he explained - article by detailed article - how the charter would tear apart France's treasured safety net of social protection in the name of a "liberal free- market economy."
As soon as he had finished, a member of the public leapt to his feet.
"What is wrong with liberalism?" he wanted to know. Another member of the public raised his hand. "What do we actually mean by liberalism?" he wondered. "Should we not refer instead to ultraliberalism?"
There followed, for several intellectually challenging minutes, a debate worthy of the Sorbonne about the relative merits of different schools of economic thought. John Stuart Mill's name was tossed out. Friedrich von Hayek, a fierce exponent of free- market capitalism, was vilified. References to wealth distribution flew.
None of this had much to do with the text of the Constitution, but that didn't matter. For the crowd in this room, incongruously decorated with children's paintings, one view mattered most: the Constitution made state intervention in the economy virtually impossible, and that was a bad thing.
How much better does it get than a vote that prevents Europe-wide statism and locks in French statism? Posted by Orrin Judd at May 12, 2005 7:20 PM
"...incongruously decorated with children's paintings..." Is he serious?
Posted by: Luciferous at May 12, 2005 7:27 PMTradesports yes contract is at 65/67. This was fun while it lasted.
Posted by: joe shropshire at May 12, 2005 7:36 PMLet's be honest. Even the most determined Europhobe gripped by schadenfreude is confused as to which side to hope for. But one thing that is very hard for the North American mind to comprehend. Why are there no respectable, articulate, democratic "liberal" (i.e. conservative) voices articulating the case for the "No" vote. Aside from the two Czech Vaclav's, I can't think of a Eurosceptic I would look forward to sharing a lunch with.
Posted by: Peter B at May 12, 2005 7:53 PMEU Referendum, you might find someone there.
Posted by: Sandy P. at May 12, 2005 8:47 PMAs far as I could tell from my perusal of the EU Constitution, far from preventing state interference in the economy, such intervention was enshrined in article after article. The only difference is that it would be done by the crew in Brussels across the entire EU. France would no longer be able to intervene on its own.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at May 12, 2005 10:25 PMThe EU Constitution ought to be a dream come true for the euro-socialist statists. It is baffling to me why the euro-left sees it as an evil capitalist plot.
Posted by: Gideon at May 13, 2005 2:04 AMGideon - it's called projection.
Posted by: Randall Voth at May 13, 2005 2:52 AMGideon - It divides the National Socialists from the International Socialists, just as they were divided pre-WWII. National Socialists are strong in France - their heritage dates back to Napoleon.
Posted by: pj at May 13, 2005 7:50 AMPeter B,
Kilroy-Silk?
A 'Non' vote is obviously best for France, except for one thing. The voters want more statism than the EU is offering, not less. If the French were to take the 'Non' opportunity and change their economy to make it less dirigiste and more in line with the obviously successful Anglo-American model, it would be a positive. However, the French will use the defeat of the EU to impose even more state control, just about strangling the place completely.
Either way, they lose.
Posted by: bart at May 13, 2005 9:00 AM